Signal-flag holder



July 3G, 1929. H. w. FAHNEsToc'K I SIGNAL FLAG HOLDER Filed May 27, 1927 Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1.722.842 APATENT OFFl-CE,

HARRY W, FAHNESTOCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLIN'OIAS.

SIGNAL-FLAG HOLDER.

Application filed May 27, 1927. Serial No. 194,728.

My invention relates to a railway signal device for being attached to a railway rail and there locked in position so that such signal cannot be removed by someone not authorized to do so.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a signal flag adapted for use particularly' by repairmen working on tracks or railway cars which have been set out on the tracks, and in which the usual custom is to protect such cars by the use of a blue flag attached to a pointed stick whlch is set in the ground between the rails or'by attaching to the rail a flag having a spring clio. A

ln practice a flag which is set in the ground between the rails may be blown over by the wind or it may be removed by some person not having authority to do so, wlth the result that a car may be run into the Workmen resulting in loss of life or serious injury to the workmen.

In my improved construction I provide a resiliently mounted signal flag which 1s locked to the rail head and cannot be removed therefrom except by some authorized person who carries a key to unfasten the lock.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a signal flag which is resiliently mounted onto the rail and which is adapted to be secured to the rail head and project upwardly at an angle therefrom so that the signalling member is positioned midway between the rails comprising a track, and in full and easy view of a trainmanvor engine crew in switching operations.

f Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a device which is simple in operation, which is efficient and easily attached to the rail head, and is easily removed therefrom, and which is adapted to fit upon rail heads of different sizes and be firmly clamped into position upon the said rails.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings and in Which:-

Figure 1 is an elevational view of my improved invention attached to the rail head;

Figure 2 is a detailed view showing the locking members secured to a rail section; and

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 2.

i Referring now specifically to the drawings, a signalling member-.10 is provided having a hole 11 therein near the lower side thereof withinwhich' a lantern 4can be hung or othersignalling member attached, the said signalling member 10 having a standard 12 secured thereto in any suitable manner. 'The member 12 is preferably made of an angle iron and at the lower end thereof has a member`13 secured thereto by'means. of a pair of rivets 14, 14, the said member 13' extend'- ng downward beyond the end ofthe memif# where its free end 17 is sloped materially to provide -a bearing surface for a cooperating locking member 18. The locking member 18 extends parallel with the member 13 and is greater in length than the lsaid member 13 and is secured upon a stud 19 mounted in the standard 12, the said stud 19 projecting upward from the standard 12 a" suflicient distance to allow the member 18 to be lifted upwardand voutward so that its freeendV becomes disengaged from under the` 'rail head 16. The member 18 engages an enlarged portion of the stud 19 at'its upper end when in lockedV position. Theiower endy of the member 18 passes over the zend 17V-fof the member 15 and over the top ofthe rail head 16, and conformsto the contour ofthe rail head, passing ltherearound and has an inwardly turned end-20 adapted to engage on the under side of the rail head'l6.

portion 22 vwith I an opening 23 i therein through which the bow-ofapadlocks adapted to be passed, the member'18 'hav- A member 21 is providedhaving ahead ing an elongated opening 24 therein through whichv the head'22 of; the 'member 21 is f adapted to be passed, after which the bow of the padlock is' inserted throughthe opening 23 andthe device locked' in position'upon made ofsprin p .hold the signa in position and also enable the device to be attached to the. larger sized rai-lheads. For instance, if, the device as illustrated is secured to a 90'pound rail, it

.can also be used with an 80 pound rail and also a 100 pound rail. rIhe inner edge of the member 15 being angular is adapted to engage on the under side ofrrail heads of different thickness and the member 18 being `made of spring steel will also clamp the member 15 onto the rail head even though this rail head be somewhat narrower and somewhat less in thickness than a rail head having a contour vconforming exactly to the inner outline of these two members. lLikewise, the device can be attached to a rail head somewhat larger in size because. of the f spring character ofthe metal without causing a set in the metal rendering it useless for use upon rai-ls of lesser sizes.- The minimum variationl in the width and depth of rail heads within the limits described, amounts to approximately 6/32 of an inch, so that .in View of the spring character and the shape of the inner member of the rail, the dev-ice isreadily adaptable for use within these limits.'v y j In the removal ofthe flag from the rail, the padlock is unlocked and removed from the member 22, whereupon the member 18 is lifted. outwardly, thus loosening. the member fromv the raii head and allowingthe device to be removed from the rail head. It

will bevnoted that the contour of the member 18 between the points of its engagement with the members 13 and 17, conforms substantially to the angle of the under side of the 'rail headV which is engaged by the end 20 of the member 18, -so that whenthe member 18 is pushed outward in a direction correspondin tothis angle, it may be easily removed rom the rail headi While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do` not Wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may Ysuggest or render-expedientwithout departlmember secured tothe lower en d of said standard, said rail engaging member extending under the Yrail head at one side thereof and partially across the top of the rail head,

vand a second rail engaging member extending parallel with and overlapping the free endV of the first mentioned rail engaging member, fastening means for securing the said second rail engaging member to the standard, and a lock receiving member secured to said standard and extending through an opening in said second mentioned rail engaging member intermediate the ends thereof.

2. A railway' signal comprising in combination, a' standard, a signal member` secured to one end of said standard, a rail en gaging member secured to the opposite end of the said standard, the said rail engaging member extending under the rail head at one side thereof and upwardlyl along the side of said rail head and partially thereacross on the upper side thereof, and a second rail engaging member extending` parallel with said first mentioned rail engaging member, the said second member extending across the free end of said first mentioned member and,` into engagement with the under side of the rail head at the opposite side from the said first mentioned member, a loose connection for said last mentioned rail engaging member, and a lock receiving member extending through said last mentioned rail engaging member and the lock receiving member carried by said standard and extending through the said last mentioned rail receiving member intermediate the ends thereof wherebyrthe said last mentioned member is secured in fixed relation 1 HARRY W. FAHNES'IOGK.V 

